There is a saying that "bad publicity is better than no publicity." Because celebrities live off public attention, sometimes healthy criticism can be preferable to indifference. However, actions involving fabricating non-existent issues, unilaterally spreading false claims, and finding faults just to criticize cannot be tolerated.
In the past, stars often avoided responding to malicious comments out of concern it would only blow things out of proportion. Nowadays, however, they actively counter false rumors with strong responses. Despite this, malicious online criticismβknown as "eok-kka" (the act of forcibly criticizing or putting someone down)βcontinues unabated, with several female celebrities recently falling victim to it.
Jang Won-young and Unfounded Rumors
Should she be called the icon of unfair criticism? IVE member Jang Won-young has massive global fandom, but her tremendous success, vast wealth, and fame at a young age have also made her a target of severe envy and jealousy.
Earlier this year in January, a controversy arose claiming she was late to a Seongsu-dong event, which turned out to be caused by delayed on-site scheduling rather than Jang being late for her photo time. She had been wearing a false accusation. Then in May, critics took issue with her attitude during a passport check by staff at Gimpo Airport departure hall, criticizing her for crossing her arms while pulling up her mask and hat for identity verification.
Most recently, when the rookie girl group A2O LITE, produced by Lee Soo-man, won first place with their debut song ‘NEON’ on Mnet’s ‘M Countdown’, Jang Won-young was randomly dragged into the discourse. After Rada took first place, she bowed to senior Jang Won-young standing next to her, and Jang smiled and greeted her lightly. Critics, however, raised absurd speculations, claiming Jang did not bow back like Rada and asking whether she was being arrogant and jealous. These are nothing short of absurd malicious comments from keyboard judges.
Son Ye-jin Facing Over-the-line Interferences
Actress Son Ye-jin built a happy family with fellow actor Hyun Bin after marriage and giving birth to a healthy son. She has been sharing daily life with her son via social media, showcasing his rapid growth. Recently, however, malicious comments on a few posts have drawn heavy criticism.
Last month, she shared a video of herself eating cheese sticks, which prompted over-the-line interference from global netizens. While thousands of comments praised her eating habits, some overseas netizens reacted sharply, claiming she chewed too loudly or lacked hygiene by eating with her hands.
She also shared photos from a trip to Yokohama, Japan, which drew comments degrading her appearance and style, calling her level "just an ordinary auntie." Furthermore, when she shared photos of ordinary, neat home-cooked meals and gimbap made at home, malicious comments emerged claiming the gimbap looked unappetizing or asking if there are housewives who cannot even roll gimbap.
Son Ye-jin shares her daily life during non-promotional periods simply to communicate with fans, not to showcase cooking skills. Nevertheless, mocking or personal attack comments cross the line.
Han Ga-in and False Frames
Han Ga-in actively stepped up to clarify frames portraying her as an overly zealous school-run mother or a luxury-flaunting actress.
Back in March, she shared a captured screen of a news article on her personal social media. The shared photo showed her appearance on tvN’s ‘You Quiz’, with articles reporting that Han Ga-in’s jacket was from luxury brand D and cost around 7.4 million won, her earrings from the same brand cost 19 million won, and her necklace cost 6.3 million won. Han Ga-in clarified, "Ha… all of these are sponsored. They are not mine."
Prior to this, comedian Lee Soo-ji parodied a ‘Daechi-dong mom’, and around the same time, coinciding with Han Ga-in’s ‘child-riding daily routine’, suspicions arose questioning whether Han Ga-in served as the motif. Some netizens mocked Han Ga-in as a "zealous mother," leading her to switch her riding videos to private.
In September of this year, a prominent YouTuber exposing dishonest businesses raised suspicions that Han Ga-in engaged in hidden advertising for a specific health supplement, bringing her back to the center of controversy. Han Ga-in released statements for two consecutive days and published all her actual payment details. While she repeatedly apologized for introducing health-related products without sufficient verification, she maintained that the "hidden advertising" suspicions were entirely false, authenticating her purchase as self-paid. The controversy concluded after the YouTuber issued an apology.
Son Dam-bi Dealing with Consecutive Misunderstandings
Singer Son Dam-bi experienced numerous disruptions this year, including allegations regarding obesity shots and controversies over lodging use.
In July, she went on a trip to Sokcho with her family, including husband Lee Hyuk-gyu and their daughter, and shared joyful moments blowing bubbles with her young daughter in the accommodation living room. However, some netizens criticized her, claiming it was inappropriate to play with bubbles in shared accommodation rather than at home. Son Dam-bi swiftly clarified, "Many of you are worried about the bubble play, but I wiped down the entire floor with towels."
Another lodging issue arose when Son Dam-bi leaned against a bed wearing outdoor sneakers inside the room. Netizens commented that wearing outdoor shoes on a bed is bad manners and unhygienic for a shared space. Son Dam-bi expressed her displeasure, stating, "This is a hotel where you enter wearing hotel shoes. They are even new shoes. What is unmannered about this? Please moderate yourselves."
Another round of unfair criticism occurred just last month. After shedding 21kg following childbirth through strict diet and exercise, Son Dam-bi released a video detailing "3 habits to recover post-partum body shape." Netizens suspected whether she used popular diet injections currently trending globally. Son Dam-bi drew a clear line, stating, "I lost weight through steady exercise and diet management. I hope you won’t easily discount someone else’s hard effort."
The netizen explained they made the remark out of regret because they loved her healthy beauty during her peak years, and Son Dam-bi added, "It’s okay. After having a baby, even with a lot of exercise, muscles don’t build up easily since it hasn’t been long since childbirth. I will try harder." Despite the happiness of marriage and motherhood, Son Dam-bi faced the ordeal of clarifying misunderstandings three times within just three months.
